A cultural tour

Friday 28th June 

A sort of rest day today – no game drives. Instead we visited a masai village and after being entertained by singing and dancing and jumping (which we had to join) we were told about the life of the masai people. Very interesting. They are polygamous – the chiefs son said his father had 6 wives, and he had 2. Only 3 people in the village had been to school and spoke English. More children go to school these days as the government have sort of made it compulsory – though some of the younger children must stay home to tend the goats and cattle. The women of the village build the huts – it takes them 2 weeks. When a man marries another wife then she and the other women build her a hut. Fascinatingly simple life!

The whole masai village ready to welcome us.

Cute kids

yes, I joined in.
I was even able to get my collar bouncing.

Making fire with 2 sticks and grass.

Following this we had a walking tour through a nearby village visiting rice growing areas, banana plantations (several varieties of bananas – I liked the red bananas), wood carving, painting,  and banana beer making places. The banana beer was bluggh, the banana wine slightly more palatable. Finally we had lunch prepared at a family home. Lots of local dishes, and most very nice. I wasn’t keen on the cooked green banana though. 

A walk along the main street of the local village.

Wood carver at work.

Red bananas - I liked these ones.
Just a slightly different flavour to ordinary ones.

The local painting gallery. Some nice ones there
but we already purchased a painting in Nairobi.

Beautiful painting at the exxy upmarket tourist shop.
Bit out of our price range - $2000 USD.

We love the painted dogs,
 but don't think we'll see any this trip.

Back to the lodge via a visit to the huge tourist souvenir shop (run by Indians). Some fantastic paintings and carvings but very exxy. I did manage to bargain for a few pieces of fabric. Maybe more fabric later at a ‘not tourist’ price.